Earth analysis methods, subsurface feature detection methods, earth analysis devices, and articles of manufacture
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An earth analysis device comprising:
- a movable member including a substantially flat face portion perpendicular to a single substantially lineal direction, wherein the substantially flat face portion is configured to engage the earth to transmit acoustic waves to the earth and respond to reflected acoustic waves from the earth;
a vibratory source configured to vibrate the movable member while the movable member is engaged with the earth;
a sensor mechanically coupled to the movable member and configured to provide a signal indicative of a signature of a signal imparted to the earth by the movable member responsive to the vibratory source and concurrently responsive to the reflected acoustic waves in the single substantially lineal direction; and
processing circuitry coupled with the sensor, configured to process the signal provided by the sensor and to provide information regarding a subsurface feature located in the single substantially lineal direction away from the movable member.
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Abstract
Earth analysis methods, subsurface feature detection methods, earth analysis devices, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, an earth analysis method includes engaging a device with the earth, analyzing the earth in a single substantially lineal direction using the device during the engaging, and providing information regarding a subsurface feature of the earth using the analysis.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An earth analysis device comprising:
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a movable member including a substantially flat face portion perpendicular to a single substantially lineal direction, wherein the substantially flat face portion is configured to engage the earth to transmit acoustic waves to the earth and respond to reflected acoustic waves from the earth; a vibratory source configured to vibrate the movable member while the movable member is engaged with the earth; a sensor mechanically coupled to the movable member and configured to provide a signal indicative of a signature of a signal imparted to the earth by the movable member responsive to the vibratory source and concurrently responsive to the reflected acoustic waves in the single substantially lineal direction; and processing circuitry coupled with the sensor, configured to process the signal provided by the sensor and to provide information regarding a subsurface feature located in the single substantially lineal direction away from the movable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. An earth analysis device, comprising:
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a device body; a movable member including a substantially flat face portion perpendicular to a single substantially lineal direction, wherein the substantially flat face portion is configured to engage the earth and move relative to the device body along a single axis in response to vibrational energy imparted to the movable member by the earth; a vibratory source configured to vibrate the movable member along the single axis while the movable member is engaged with the earth; and a sensor mechanically coupled to the movable member and configured to provide information indicative of a signature of a signal imparted to the earth by the movable member along the single axis resulting from both the vibrations imparted to the movable member by the vibratory source and the concurrent vibrations imparted to the movable member by the earth. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification